Souda's TR..with the Princesses

[souda]

Finally....I am able to start my TR. I have been busy with DD8's competition dancing and its finally over...till school starts.

When: May 27 to June 5

Where: All-Star Music - Didn't particularly like this resort only because my girls really didn't get the music and disney relation. It didn't have the Disney icons that my girls enjoy. When we plan our next trip, we will most likely to go back to ASMo.

Who: Myself, DH, DD8, DD4, DMother (who says Disney is not a vacation, but is always the first on the plane), DStepDad, DN5

I sooo didn't want to come home. Neither did my girls. I wish we lived closer to Orlando so we could visit more often.

Coming Up: Day 1 The Plane Ride

 

[souda]

Day 1:

I woke up Day 1 morning and yes, I went to WORK!! Our plane doesn't leave till this evening at 6:10pm. Luckily I have a great boss that let me work extra hours on Monday, which was Memorial Day, so that I could leave work at 1pm to make our flight.

We fly out of New Orleans which is about an hour from our house.

I left a list for DH to finish before we can leave, which also includes packing the car. And yes, he was all done when I got home. The kids were dressed and ready to go. They could barely sit still to get their seat belts on.

We arrive at the airport at around 3:30pm. My parents and neice met us their because my sister wanted to see DN off. We all had supper at the airport..Popeye's Fried Chicken.

Here are the kids waiting at the airport:

DD8 and DN5

DD8, DN5, and DD4

I wish I had taken more pictures at the airport. But this is all I have.

We arrived at Orlando airport a little before 9pm. Disney's Magical Express was waiting for us...and all the others going to Disney. We elected to grab our own luggage because if Disney retrieves it, it could take up to 4 hours from the time your plane arrives. We didn't want to be woken up at 1am for our luggage. We hauled all our luggage (and it was kind of alot) down to the Magical Express. I was disappointed, and so were the kids, because it was a MEARS bus, so no Disney movie on the way..we had to watch some sort of science fiction action movie.

The ride was only about 30 minutes, and of course All-Star Music was one of the last stops, so we didn't arrive at ASMu till about 10:15pm. Checked in with no problems and off to our Room which was in Bldg 5 all the way in the back. That is a long walk hauling lots of luggage and three tired children. But we made it.

After we got settled, we headed to the Food Court to buy refillable mugs. I wanted to get to bed early, but that didn't seem to be happening. Gave the kids a bath at about 11:30pm, and then they were out within seconds. Me on the other hand, couldn't fall asleep.

And to my surprise, My wonderful DH had a package delivered to us when we got there. A wonderful Disney gift basket with monogramed Mickey ears for me just because he wanted to show his appreciation for all the planning I did for this vacation. How sweet!!!

A couple of minutes later, another package with monogramed Mickey ears for the girls. He can be so thoughtfull at times.

Upcoming: Day 2 Animal Kingdom

 

[souda]

Received my Photopass cd's today. I also ordered a Disney photo book, received that last Thursday. It is so awesome, better than I expected. Hope to be able to post Day: 2 Animal Kingdom tomorrow.

 

[souda]

Our first day in the parks. Yaaa!!!

Animal Kingdom

Choose Animal Kingdom for today because we have ADR for The Spirit of Aloha Polynesian Luau at 8pm and AK closes at 5pm.

Up at 7am and ready to go by 8am.

DD8

DD4

We ate breakfast at the Food Court at ASMu then off to the park.

Arrived right after rope drop at 9:15am. First thing was to rent a stroller for the 9 days we will be in the parks.

I don't think I will rent a stroller on our next trip. It was $242.98 for 9 days. DD8 barely fit. So next time, we will bring our own for DD4.

Back to AK....

Not too crowded today. Last trip in 2007, this park was so crowded we left for a midday break and never returned.

It's Tough to Be a Bug is first on the list with only a 15 minute wait and I don't think we even waited that long. I only took one picture of the Tree of Life...Here it is

Next is Kali River Rapids. The wait was only 20 minutes. We missed this last trip. Loved it, even DD4 liked it.

Okay, now for the best part....EE and with only a 15 minute wait. DH, DD8, stepdad and of course myself get in line. I love rollercoasters and didn't get to ride EE last trip. And of course, loovved it. DD8 and stepdad not so much. DH usually gets motion sickness. He heard that taking Ginger will cure motion sickness, so he started taking one Ginger tablet per day about one month before our trip. All I can say is that he didn't get sick.

 

[souda]

Forgot to post this pic from It's Tough To Be A Bug:

From EE we went to see Finding Nemo - The Musical but it was about one hour and fifteen minutes til the next show, so we went over to Dinoland, U.S.A. and never made it back. Maybe next trip.

DD8 and I rode Primeval Whirl. Ride was so so...probably won't ride again, was rough.

DD4 and DN5 and DMom rode Tricera Top Spin.

Anyone hungry? Yes, we all were. Breakfast was at our toes.

It was also started to rain. Restaurantosaurus was right there. We had the normal burgers DH and myself and nuggets for the kids. Luckily we found a table because it was pouring outside. By the time we finished eating, the rain had stopped.

We headed over to Festival of the Lion King. Awesome. None of the kids wanted to see any characters at Camp Minnie-Mickey.

That's it for AK. Back to the resort to swim and rest. We weren't swimming 30 minutes before the thunder started. Oh well, now time to rest. Can't get the kids to rest.

We have ADR at 8pm for the Spirit of Aloha Polynesian Luau. I am soo excited to have a chance to see the Polynesian Resort.

DD8

DD4

DN5

DH and DD8

The Poly is beautiful.

The Bad news: the thunder and lightning started and they cancelled our Luau. This was the meal that I was most looking forward to. They told us to get with the concierge desk at our resort to receive our credits to our DDP. I guess I will take care of this in the morning.

We decide to head to DTD. The rain starts while we are waiting at the bus stop. By the time we get to DTD it is pouring and of course we brought the kids ponchos in their bag and left ours back at the room. So DH and I are soaked. All we can do when we get to DTD is wait at the bus stop under the little bus stops along with tons of other people.

The rain seems to calm a little little, so we make a run for it and of course get soaked. Rainforest Cafe has about an hours wait, but at this point what else are we supposed to do. So waiting it is. Of course the food is good as always and the kids got to look around the gift shop and get a couple of souvenirs.

 

[souda]

Magic Kingdom:

We watched the opening ceremony, this was sooo cool. Off to ADR at CRT. This was the first time in the castle. I was more excited than my kids.

This is the only photo that my DD4 would take. She did not want to see any of the other princesses.

After our wonderful Breakfast at CRT, which I have to say was very tasty, we met the Fairy GodMother right outside the castle.

DD4 did not want to see the Fairy Godmother either.

 

[souda]

To try to please DD4, we head over to Toontown to see Tink and her fairy friends. Tink is her favorite Disney character. We get there and WOW...75 minute wait. DD4 is already in a fowl mood, so we will not wait and get her more aggrevated.

We walked through Minnie's house. I got a few pictures outside.

DD4 does not like to take photos. I could hardly get her to look at me.

We rode Goofy's Barnstormer....DD8 and DN5 love this ride...DD4 not so much.

 

[souda]

We decided to make DD4 happy, we headed over to ride the Mad Tea Party.
Her FAVORITE ride. I gotta say, I like this ride also.

This is the only time DD4 smiled for pictures. Can't you tell by her smile.

We could go to Disney and only ride this and nothing else, she would be happy.


More to come later.

 

[souda]

Off to DD8's favorite ride....SM.

Long waits. Grabbed Fastpasses and headed to Pirates ride. Not a long wait. We didn't have this ride on our itenary, but the wait wasn't long and we wanted to stay close by SM. After shopping in the Pirates shop and a bathroom break, time for SM. DD4 and DM's first time riding. DD4 didn't like getting wet without her bathing suit on and DM didn't like it just cause she doesn't like thrill rides. DD8 loved it, of course.

A few pics after our ride. All the kids bought SM shirts...only DD8 wanted to put it on.

 

[souda]

Time for.....Disney Dreams Come True Parade. We missed the parades on our last trip.

Grabbed a spot on Main Street and waited.

DD8 waiting with an Ice Cream.

DD4

DH waiting..

Sorry, no photo of myself, usually behind the camera.

Parade was awesome.

Coming up...Parade Photos

 

[souda]

Photos from the Parade....

Cinderella was looking right at my kids.

 

[souda]

I love this photo.

This is the start of it all...If it wouldn't be for Walt, we would not be able to enjoy the World as we do.

 

[souda]

Hope to post soon. Been busy with the start of school and dancing.

 

[souda]

After parade, went back to resort for a rest and swim.

Back to MK for the evening.

Day 3

Chef Mickey's for Breakfast. I think we will take this restaurant off of our character meals list. The food was just ok. Crystal Palace is so much better.

We might choose all new character meals next trip. Just to change it up. Let the kids see new characters.